Professor Ransford Gyampo of the University of Ghana (UG) has condemned the calls for gender and ethnicity balance in President John Mahama’s ministerial appointments.

He argued that, as a developing country, Ghana should not prioritise gender, ethnic, or regional balance when forming a government.

“Governance in a developing country is too serious a matter to be determined by mere considerations of gender, ethnicity, and regionalism,” he said on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Wednesday, January 22.

Prof Gyampo explained, “While the constitution calls for regional balance, I believe it is not infallible. Even the Bible faces challenges regarding its interpretation, and similarly, the constitution has provisions that can hinder our development, which is why it is reviewed.”

Gyampo further rejected the notion that President Mahama should appoint more women or ensure equal representation for all regions. He stated, “The idea of appointing individuals from all regions without prioritising competency is problematic. Focusing on gender, regionalism, and ethnicity, without considering competency, will continue to hinder our efforts to govern effectively and bring about development.”